Improved refrigerator and weighing-apparatus



-M--feea -W- IRA BUCKMAN, JR., OF Wl LLIAMSBURG, NEW- YORK.

Letters Patent No. 88,442, (lated Mtl/rch 30, 1869.

IMPROVED REFRIGERATOR AND WEIGHING-APPARATUS.

The Schedule referred to in these Lettera Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IRA BUCKMAN, J r., of Williamsburg, in the county of Kings, and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combining a Refrigerator with a lVeighing and Indicating-Apparatus; and the followingr is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specication, in which- Figure l represents an open front view of the refrigerator', showing the detached ice-box, or receiver', and the weighing mechanical appliances, the position, when in the act of weighing, being shown in red lines.

Figure 2 shows an end view vertical section through the centre ofthe refrigerator, detached ice-box, weighing mechanical appliances, flexible tube, trap, and beamstandard, which connectsA with the trap, and forms the double purpose of the post and drain-pipe.

Figure 3 shows a detached viewof' the trap, and themode .of constructing the same, with two views, face and edge. l

Figure 4 shows two broken-off sections, through which the aperture is made, to receive the sealebeam and the cover for closing it air-tight, front and sectional views.

The object of my invention is to connect and combine two important articles of use in housekeeping, and to provide a most sure aud'ever-ready means and convenient mode of weighing all articles of food, such as meats, vegetables, fruits, &c., which are procured in market, and which are desirable to be kept in a refrigerator; and is also convenient for weighing groceries, or anything else, in ordinary quantities, which are required for family use.

My invention consists in combining a refiigerator with a platform weighing-apparatus, detached ice-box, ilexible tube, trap, and beam-standard, and the means of closing the aperture in which the scale-beam is inserted, air-tight, when the beam is removed.

Toenable others to make and use my invention, I will describe it more in detail, referring to the drawings, and to the letters marked thereon.

Ilhe refrigerator A may be of any kind now in use, or constructed in any desirable manner. i

There may be blocks, or girders, a a, placed in a suitable position to support the fulcrum-levers b b, on which the detached ice-box B is supported at the four .corners, in the same manner as ordinary platform-scales.

rIhe compound lever, d, which connects with the levers, b b, by a link, c,-is supported in an adjustable head, c, which is provided with a stem, f, to tit into a pipe, E, placed vertically in or near the central front part of the refrigerator, in the rear of which is placed a block of Wood, O, to supporta funnel, D, directly under the small pipe g, in the sunken portion of the bottom ofthe detached ice-box B, whose sides extend below the bottom, to carry off the drippings, if any there be.

The drippings of the melting ice are conveyed into a flexible tube, F, which connects the funnel D with a water or air-trap, G, which is secured to the rear side of the vertical pipe-standard E, so that the drainage may be constant, without admitting any air into the refrigerator, or ice-box B,-. which is entirely detached from the sides ofthe case, orlrefrigerator A, and rests on pins and steel plates','at the four corners, in the levers b I), thus forming the platform or receiver for anything to be weighed.

All of the connections, and the bearings of the weighiiig-apparatus, may be .made of anti-corrosive material, so that they will be durable, and be in condition to operate freely, and indicate-the weight of either large or small articles correctlyv The scale-beam H is made detachable by being Eitdesirable for-weighing, it is instantly inserted in its place, and when the refrigerator is closed air-tight, the

scale-beam is taken out, and the aperture I, through the case, is 'provided with a cover, orr-escutcheon J,

which is backedwith India rubber, i, or leather, or

any other exiblematerial to form a. sufficient packing to exclude the air.'

The scale-beam may be constructed with a. rulejoint, so as to fold up, within the line'ofthe case, and the` opeuingcovered in a. similar manner.

The water and air-trap G, as shown in an .enlarged view in the iig. 3, is constructed in the most simple manner, being made complete by a single casting,

' with a division, k, between the induction and eduction-pipes lm. and n, in the circular hollow J, and a lface-cap, K, securedto it by a single screw, L, in the centre; or a bolt and nut may be used, if desirable.

A very good water-trap, for excluding the air, may be formed' by a curve, or bend in the flexible pipe.

The flexible pipe F may be easily removed from the tube I) and trap G, for cleaning out any obstructions that may get into it, and as easily replaced.

Itwill readily be seen, that with my plan of 'combining a weighing-apparatus with a lrefrigerator, al most economical and useful improvement is obtained, will always be in readiness for use, does not occupy room, or space which can be made very available for other purposes, and will enable housekeepers-to readily ascertain the weight of anyart-icle they have purchased, it not being necessary to remove anything ii'om the detached ice-box, but simply to observe or balance the contents therein contained, and then add the vweight of each article laid therein as it is weighed, the scalebeain being graduated for the weighing of such quantities as are ordinarily procured; but when i t is necessary to weigh a larger quantity, it is effected by using a larger poise, or weight at the end of the beam.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A detached movable ice-box, within a refrigerator-case, in combinationwith a weighing-apparatus, substantially as and for the purposes described.

and trap G, constructed as described, for conducting oifthe water, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

` IRA BUUKMAN, JR.

Witnesses:

J. B. WOODRUFF, EDM. F. BROWN.

ted into a socket, h, in the compound lever d, and when 2. The funnel-shaped tube D, the flexible tube F, 

